Glentoran Football Club can confirm that talented young goalkeeper Lorcan Donnelly has signed a new long-term contract with the club and will join Carrick Rangers on loan until the end of the season.

The highly-rated Academy and Elite Scholarship Programme graduate has committed his future to The BetMcLean Oval and makes the move to Taylors Avenue to continue his development at Sports Direct Premiership level.

The loan move follows an impressive first half of the campaign with Ballinamallard United in the NIFL Championship, where Donnelly made 24 appearances across all competitions.

The 19-year-old made his senior debut for the Glens during the 2023/24 season against Coleraine and has built a strong reputation through a series of productive loan spells, including time with Lisburn Distillery in the NIFL Premier Intermediate League and Newry City in the NIFL Championship.

Speaking after signing his new long-term contract with Glentoran and completing his loan move to Carrick Rangers, Lorcan Donnelly said: “I’m really proud to sign a new long-term contract with Glentoran and grateful for the trust the club has shown in me.

“Carrick Rangers is a great opportunity for me and I’m looking forward to going in, working hard every day and doing everything I can to help the team. I know there’s strong competition for places, but that’s part of playing at this level and something I’m really looking forward to.

“My focus is on gaining valuable experience, continuing to improve and pushing myself in a highly demanding and competitive environment. Hopefully I can come back to Glentoran in the summer having learned a lot and done enough to put myself in contention for the first-team squad.”

Declan Devine, Glentoran First Team Manager, said: “This is a great opportunity for Lorcan to continue his development at Sports Direct Premiership level. He’s had an excellent first half of the season with Ballinamallard United, following on from impressive spells with Newry City and Lisburn Distillery.

“We see a big future for him at The BetMcLean Oval and joining Carrick Rangers represents the next step in his progression. This move gives him the chance to push for a starting place, gain valuable minutes in the top flight and continue developing in a demanding environment.”

“The plan is for Lorcan to return having gained that experience and be integrated into our first-team squad ahead of next season. We’ll monitor his progress closely and look forward to welcoming him back.”

Paul Millar, Sporting Director at Glentoran, said: “This move represents an important stage in Lorcan’s long-term development pathway we have planned for him over a number of seasons. Lorcan has been part of this football club from a very young age and we see him as an important part of our future.

“He has progressed through senior football in a structured way, gaining experience in the NIFL Premier Intermediate League and the NIFL Championship, and this next step into Sports Direct Premiership football is a natural progression in that journey.

“We believe Lorcan has the potential to develop into a long-term number one at Glentoran and this loan is about placing him in the right environment to continue that development at the right time.”

Donnelly becomes the latest player to move out on loan during the January transfer window, with Charlie Lindsay and Nathaniel Ferris also joining Glenavon on loan until the end of the season.

Young winger Jude Johnson has joined NIFL Championship leaders Annagh United on loan for the remainder of the campaign, while Callan Farley has extended his loan spell with Warrenpoint Town until the end of the season.

The window has also seen Jonny Russell complete a permanent move to EFL League Two side Crawley Town for an undisclosed fee, alongside forward David Fisher, who has completed a permanent transfer to Vietnamese V.League side Hanoi FC, also for an undisclosed fee.

Meanwhile, Declan Devine has continued to strengthen his squad for the second half of the season, completing the signing of versatile attacking midfielder Jack Malone from Glenavon for an undisclosed fee, alongside the free-transfer arrival of 23-year-old former Dungannon Swifts forward Ben Gallagher.